Vibe Show Fight in Season Opener, Fall to Fury in Four Sets

Here’s the revised version with Edmond’s message to the fans woven in naturally, keeping it in your voice and flow:

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Vibe Show Fight in Season Opener, Fall to Fury in Four Sets

The Atlanta Vibe opened their Major League Volleyball season Thursday night with plenty of fight, but the Columbus Fury ultimately pulled away for a 3–1 win in the season opener in Atlanta.

Atlanta set the tone early, taking the first set 25–23 and showing the grit that defined this group a season ago. The momentum nearly carried into the second set, which turned into a marathon rally. The Vibe battled point for point but came up just short, dropping the set 31–29 in a pivotal swing moment of the match.

Columbus used that edge to take control down the stretch, edging Atlanta 25–23 in the third set before closing out the match with a 25–19 win in the fourth.

Despite the result, Head Coach Kayla Banwarth liked the competitiveness her team showed, particularly from the service line and in extended rallies.

“We’ve got to make the easy plays in January to make the hard plays in May,” Banwarth said. “We have a lot to learn but I’m looking forward to getting back in the gym.”

Outside hitter Leah Edmond led the way offensively, finishing with 17 points and 16 kills in her continued leadership role for the Vibe since the team’s inaugural season. Defensively, libero Britt Rampelberg and opposite hitter Aiko Jones anchored the back row, combining for 29 digs and keeping Atlanta in multiple extended exchanges.

At the net, middle blocker Raven Colvin was a presence, recording six blocks, three of which came in the tightly contested third set.

Rookie setter Maddie Waak made an immediate impact in her Vibe debut. Fresh off winning the NCAA Volleyball National Championship with Texas A&M last month, Waak tallied 47 assists while guiding the offense through four competitive sets.

Edmond praised Waak’s ability to run the offense efficiently despite limited time together and pointed to the team’s mindset following the loss.

“That’s really exciting to be around a group that was so collaborative as soon as we got off the court knowing we need to fix this quickly,” Edmond said.

During the postgame press conference, Edmond also had a clear message for the Vibe faithful—this group isn’t backing down.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” Edmond said.

The Vibe won’t have long to wait for another opportunity. Atlanta returns home Sunday at 4 p.m. to face the Grand Rapids Rise, looking to turn early lessons into progress as the season continues.